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LAWRENCE — Five University of Kansas students or recent alumni have been selected for prestigious Fulbright awards for research, study or English teaching abroad for 2016-17.

The Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The U.S. Student Fulbright program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. Fulbright grants provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and, where relevant, tuition. Since the program’s inception in 1946, 459 KU students, including this year’s awardees, have been selected for Fulbright awards.

The Office of International Programs coordinates applications for Fulbright grants.

Sammy Badran, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a doctoral student in political science. He completed a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish at the University of Minnesota in 2007 and a master’s degree in political science at University of Hawaii Manoa in 2012. He has been selected for a Fulbright award to Morocco in order to conduct research regarding whether the constitutional reforms of 2011 by the Moroccan King convinced most within the February 20th Movement to cease protesting, or whether certain ideological differences between leftist and Islamic participants led to the group’s eventual halt of protest. His fieldwork will include interviews with members of the February 20th Movement.

Jaron Castilleja, Lawrence, completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and in Russian language and culture at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a master’s degree in Slavic languages and literatures at KU in 2014. He has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award for Russia.

JoAnn Doll, Lawrence, completed bachelor of arts degrees in linguistics and in fine arts/music in 2014. She has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award for Indonesia.

Brian Turnbull, Topeka, is a doctoral student in political science. He completed a bachelor of arts in political science with a co-major in international studies, in 2009. Turnbull earned a master of arts in security studies at Georgetown University in 2011. He has been selected for a Fulbright award in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, where he will study the effect of increasing female representation and its impact on local politician behavior, political perceptions and public policy-making within the local municipal corporation.

Ashley Velez, Brooksville, Florida, will complete a bachelor of arts degree in global and international studies and in Slavic languages and literatures, with a concentration in Russian language, in August 2016. She has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award for Russia.